May 16, 2023 -- Psalm 25:20 -- The Psalm Series: The cry in need and rescue indeed

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Psalm 25:20 ESV

Psalm 121 has the same verb ‘guard’ used over and over again. A short eight verse psalm  repeating that the LORD is the One who keeps His people. Here David is praying, guard my soul—keep it for Your holy purposes. Guard my soul, especially given all the chaos that surrounds me: enemies, distress, troubles, sinfulness, and loneliness.

That second verb ‘deliver’ means to snatch away from. I think of Exodus 3:8 where the LORD promised He would deliver His people out of Egypt. At Exodus 19, after His great salvific work, the LORD reminded them He had borne them one eagles’ wings and taken them to Himself. This people were snatched from death and brought to life.

Such is the work of Jesus Christ. At the direction of our Father in heaven, He has rescued us from the wrath of God. Jesus has, by His blood, brought salvation full and free. The Holy Spirit now guards us in this great salvation. We need a guardian of our souls. The Spirit uses the Word to remind us of our salvation. The Spirit speaks to our souls and tells us we are God’s. The Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our great salvation until we see Jesus face to face. How much we need this guarding work and deliverance. We, like David, face loneliness, troubles, distress, our own sinfulness, and the violent hatred of those with whom we used to sin but not longer join in their wickedness.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name! Who is there in the heavens, or on earth, or under the earth that is like you at all? There is none like You! You alone are the guardian of our souls and in Christ You are the Deliverer of Your people. Thank You for guarding us and keeping us in Your tender care. Triune God, when the waves of sadness and the breakers of sinfulness and the floods of anxiety would power through our lives we pray, as did David, to You Jesus, for rescue and help. For You alone, God of Victory, can redeem us out of all our troubles. Amen.

https://youtu.be/D3xlq2L0hcs Guy Penrod "Victory in Jesus"

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